Amber Ascendant — Grimoire of Play

The One Thing to Remember

Read this before anything else

Every turn, you're answering: "What am I trying to do, how, and why am I allowed?" Then you compare a number to the opposition's number. That's it.

What to Say at the Table

Four steps, every single time

Say your Intent. "I want to [outcome]." Not "I swing my sword" — but "I want to knock him off the bridge."
Pick your Approach. Action = skill/training/Legacy, works within normal reality.
Effect = raw power bending reality, needs two Attributes.
State your Permission. Why can you even try this — a Legacy, Attribute, Bond, Domain, or something already established in the fiction.
Roll it into a number. Compare to the opposition's Rank. See the two paths below.

Two Paths to Any Outcome

Actions work within reality. Effects bend it.

Action

Talking, sneaking, fighting mundanely, using a known skill Rank = [Legacy] + [Edge source]

No fitting Legacy? Use an Attribute at −2 (everyday task) or −4 (expert task).
Spend 1 Essence for +1 Edge ("Empower") — visible to onlookers.
Beat opposition by 2+ → Full success
Beat it by 1 → Partial success, with a cost
Don't beat it → Failure, maybe a Consequence

Effect

Trump, big Pattern moves, blasting someone, warping a scene Rank = [Attribute] + [Attribute]

Pick two that fit — e.g. Spirit + Harmony for a Trump.
Direct (a target): they defend with Aegis; push through with Force.
Indirect (the scene): opposed by another Effect, not Aegis.
Higher rank narrates how it lands.
Damage caps at Wrath — target chooses Essence loss or a Wound, never both.

The Ledger of Resources

What's actually on your sheet, in plain terms

Term	Think of it as…
Essence	Your mana bar. Spend it to push harder or absorb hits. Refills between scenes.
Wounds	Injuries that stick around. High totals give an Edge penalty until healed.
Aegis	Your passive armor against Effects aimed at you.
Wrath	The most damage you can ever deal in one hit.
Aura	Your metaphysical presence — sets Bond/Geasa capacity and how much others flinch.
Legacies	"What I'm good at" tags from your old life. Fuel Actions.
Bonds	Real connections you can call on for Edge, communication, summoning.
Geasa	Personal "always/never" truths. Invoke for Force — breaking one is bad news.
Gifts	Character-build perks, already spent at creation. Ignore mid-game.

Cheat Codes: "What Do I Add?"

Quick lookups for the table

Fighting/forcing directly → Wrath (damage) + an Effect from two fitting Attributes
Defending → Aegis, auto-applies against Direct Effects
Using a known skill → relevant Legacy + Edge (Bond/Legacy/Gift)
Casting a Trump → Spirit + Harmony to create; just Spirit to activate one already made
Pushing through resistance → spend Essence as Force, or invoke a Geas for free Force
Shaping how a win lands → that's Edge, not Force — a separate resource entirely

Direct Effect Outcomes

Quick reference for confrontations

Final Effect	In Control	Result
0	Defender	Blocked no damage
0	Aggressor	Near Miss no damage, but leverage
1+	Defender	Costly Success damage lands, defender shapes fallout
1+	Aggressor	Full Success you land it and control fallout

Gotchas for a New Player

Learn these once, never fumble again

One Attempt at a time.Don't declare five things in one turn.
Actions can't punch through an active Aegis.Someone defended? You need an Effect, not just skill.
Empowering/Channeling is visible.People notice you doing magic.
Wounds vs. Essence is either/or.Never both, every time damage lands.
Geasa aren't flavor text.Invoke for free power — but breaking one has real teeth.